Review of Last Winters Disease Control

Now that we are through the May long weekend it is the unofficial beginning of summer golf and the supposed end of turf recuperative operations. As a result, I thought I would touch on how we fared this past winter. Its seems sorta a mute point being that we are well into golf season but there may be some things people aren't aware of.

Weather

If you've talked to me anytime this spring about how the course over wintered you've heard me comment on how the weather conditions last fall and winter had a big impact on spring conditions. Last fall was huge with respect to the turf achieving proper dormancy: dry, gradual but consistent temperature drop, and lots of light. A lot of the problems in the spring of 2010 related to the early and extremely cold temperatures in the fall of 2009 when the turf wasn't ready for it. Another plus was the fact that the snow pack this year was dry and deep. We rode out the one rain/thaw event in January with no ice. Even if any water reached the green surfaces I doubt it would have caused problems since for most of season the ground was unfrozen and water would have been able to soak in. Sometimes unfrozen ground, especially when it is wet and the grass is too lush, can exacerbate snow mould occurrences; however, this time out that was not the case. The more I think about it the more I think the soil temperature and soil moisture had an impact on spring conditions.

Fall Fungicide Applications

Treated Area in the Picture Foreground

Untreated Area Between White and Red Markers

This was the last year we were able to use quintozene (see kimberleygolfclub.blogspot.com/search?q=pmra for back ground) for winter disease control. We've messed around with different products on the greens over the past two years and I am comfortable with what we now use to treat the greens. Treating fairways for snow mould is our biggest cost when it comes to disease control. The alternative products available for 2011 are no where near as cost effective as quintozene. For the winter of 2010 we compared the efficacy of two different sprays against quintozene and, at least for this winter, we had good results.

Kimberley "Snow Mould Trials"

Far from scientific but hopefully some sort of indicator. You may have to double click on the picture to get a better view but this picture shows a fairway split longitudinally into three sections. In the centre of the picture between the rows of yellow pin flags is the quintozene spray. On either side is the two sprays we compared to quintozene. We did this comparisons at select spots on different fairways throughout the golf course with similar results. What that means for the future is had to say since, as previously mentioned, the weather had such a positive impact on spring conditions. The one comment that can be said with a large degree on confidence is the fact that the two alternative sprays we compared to quintozene were twice the price so if we want to continue some level of snow mould control the cost will go up. This winter we'll mess around some more but I think it will take a few winters before I'll have the same level of confidence with the quintozene alternatives.

River Update

I'm always amazed at the how the St. Mary river level can change from day to day. I stuck this video in here in an effort to show how fast and deep the river is but the impact is minimal unless you're familiar with the golf course intake. Obviously, water is not a problem but what a big and dirty run off can do is plug the intake with silt and clay making is harder to get necessary volumes later on despite there being lots of water in the river. As usual, it is a wait and see thing.

Quintozene, PMRA

An e-mail recently sent out to all golf course by the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA: the agency which regulates which pesticides can be used in Canada) informed everyone of the cancellation of a quintozene; a fungicide labelled for use on many agricultural crops and labelled for use against particular turf diseases. This fungicide is the backbone of KGC's snow mould prevention program. It provides good control of grey and pink snow mould at a reasonable cost. However as of December 31, 2010 it will no longer be labelled for use on turf. The good news is we can still spray our cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and cabbage) at a rate more than 2X the rate suggested for turf diseases......go figure not suitable for grass but O.K. for the food we eat. If quintozene possess properties that make it inappropriate for use then no longer labelling it for any use make sense but with it still labelled for agricultural use the PMRA sends mixed messages which is used by special interest groups when they promote their anti-pesticide agenda and criticize the PRMA and its registration process. Anyways, the importance to KGC relates to the choice we will have to make in the very near future: spend the money to continue to treat for snow mould on the fairways with an alternative product or save the money and not treat at all. The following pictures is of a section of fairway not treated for snow mould taken July 16th:

Snow mould damage
Click picture once for better view
and again for magnified view

I know it doesn't look too bad but remember this picture is taken after 10 - 12 weeks of growth. We are probably only 8 weeks away from our first frost delay! Those areas won't fill in before the end of the season. This next picture was taken in the spring right after snow melt and shows the obvious control of winter diseases quintozene offers.

Snow Mould Damage

If all the turf was maintained at 1.5-2 inches this type of damage wouldn't be a big deal. Every spring all the lawns and sports fields around town come back, don't they? However, there is a direct relationship between the intensity of the maintenance and level of disease: turf maintained at a higher intensity equals more disease opportunity. If everybody would be happly playing their entire game of golf on 2 inch turf this situation would not be so threatening.

The industry had a chance to contact the PMRA during the re-evaluation process to explain the importance of quintozene to their operation. Here is a excerpt from the letter I sent referring to the budgetary impact discontinuing quintozene would have: "Today, an application of
quintozene on 10.11 ha (size of treated area at my golf course) at present label rates the cost would be $9350. The cost of comparable treatments would be $30,250 (label rates of Propiconazole) or $22,650 (label rates of Chlorothalonil and Iprodione). The prohibitive costs of the available alternatives to Quintozene require decreasing the area treated." KGC will, not this year but definately next year, will be facing some tough choices. The almost tripling of a single budget item combined with the constant increases in fertilizer, fuel, and staffing is making it nearly impossible to meet expenseses with our present revenue.

River watch: July 21

Despite all thunderstorms the level is down. Look back to the previous post and compare the water level by the big rock on the left of both pictures.